The fields of magic and neighboring paganism is rife with specific jargon. That jargon is rarely uniform and can vary greatly depending on where, when, and from who a magical practitioner studied. This does not mean that these are the “true” definitions of these words. The words’ meanings may change as we develop this field.
This glossary gives my specific definitions. This is to help newcomers who don’t know a specific word’s magical definition and to help long time practitioners who want to know exactly what I mean when I say a certain word.
Use Ctrl + F to find a certain term.
Aura
an aura is an energy field that surrounds the body of a person, animal, or object. The size, colors, vibrations, or feel of the aura can change in different circumstances. Aura tends to extend a few inches from the body, but can be much larger.
Depending on belief, chakras may be involved in the aura as energy vortices, as per Charles Webster Leadbeater and Christopher Hills’ writings, but has been reinterpreted and evolved since then.
Aura is somewhat related to to qi / chi, or other various energetic beliefs concerning esoteric energy.
It is my belief that the aura is an esoteric energy field emitted by living beings or objects that contain energy or spirits.
Centering
Centering usually goes hand-in-hand with grounding. Centering refers to bringing yourself and your purpose into focus on letting things slip away. It also allows you to bring your energy together more easily.
It’s often used in yoga and meditation as well. You may find that you even straighten your spine while centering, creating a straight line down your spine from head to feet or hips along your bones.
Cleansing
the process by which the energy in a space or being is recharged, reset, refreshed, or renewed. It can be done to exorcise spirits and remove negative energy, curses, and general “I don’t feel so good” or “bad vibes”.
It’s essentially the equivalent of “did you try turning it off and on again?”
Construct
a being created with magic and spiritual power, often used as a servitor and has low intelligence. Constructs can go “rouge” when they’re active for too long or aren’t controlled properly.
Energy / Esoteric energy
esoteric energy is different from the scientific definition of energy, although not everyone beliefs this. Here, it largely refers to the life force, internal energy, spirit, aether, prana, the qi / chi, or vital essence of a person, animal, living organism, or object. Often, it is conflated with vitalism where the vital spark, energy, or soul is what separates living being from non-living beings.
For myself, I believe that esoteric energy is part of magic itself. Esoteric energy can be generated by living beings or attached to objects without spirits by free-floating magic, often with certain aspects or designations. This is why a stone can have its own energy but not it’s own “voice” or “spirit”. (Although some stones do develop their own spirits)
This is also why I will sometimes use magic and [esoteric] energy as synonyms of one another.
Familiar
a being, usually an animal with powers or psychic awareness of their own, that provides support for the practitioner. Often a living animal, although not always.
Traditionally, there are very specific methods to bind oneself to a Familiar. Many practitioners have relationships with their Familiars that are not formed in the traditional method described by witch hunting texts.
The difference between a Servitor and a Familiar is that Servitors are usually created and Familiars exist on their own.
Grounding
a method of balancing, directing, and even disposing, raising, or cleansing of energy. It’s also good for bringing you back to basics or focusing on things. If you’re particular flighty or an airhead, grounding can help you focus.
There are many ways of of grounding. One way is this: a person puts their feet on the floor and cycles their energy through themselves, their feet, and into the earth. The earth cycles the energy back.
Hard Polytheism
the belief that the gods are distinct, individual, and separate entities and divine beings. Some polytheists believe in only their pantheon and all other gods outside of their pantheon are rejected. See: Polytheism, Pantheism.
Magical Practitioner
anyone that practices magic, in whatever way they define magic.
Monotheism
the belief in one god or deity exists.
Omnitheism
the soft polytheistic belief that different gods are one essential being or universal force and is being interpreted by different cultures differently.
example: Zeus is Odin is Janus is Indra is Jupiter is Ra, etc, with different cultural lenses.
Oracle
a type of divination, often referring to a deck of cards not related to tarot but used similarly.
Oracle
a seer who receives divine messages from deities.
Pantheism
1) the belief that the universe and/or reality is itself is the creator deity or is sacred. May be considered a form of monotheism or soft polytheism.
2) the hard polytheistic belief that all gods exist. Many pantheists worship specific gods from different pantheons or a single pantheon while acknowledging that other pantheons exist.
Polytheism
the belief in multiple gods, often within the same pantheon. There are many beliefs within the polytheism umbrella, with something akin to a sliding scale of belief. Hard polytheists may believe all gods are real and individual divine beings whereas soft polytheists may believe that all the gods as simply one divine god with different cultural interpretations. A polytheist may fall somewhere in between the two extremes, but still call themselves a hard or soft polytheist or some other polytheistic term.
Practitioner
anyone who practices, takes part, performs, or is a member of the group or topic being discussed.
examples: magic practitioner, practitioner of Hellenic paganism, reiki practitioner, blood magic practitioner, green witch practitioner, etc.
Secular
separate from religious aspects. Often refers to secular witchcraft, which is where the witchcraft workings and the religious beliefs of a person are separated.
example: A secular witch may practice witchcraft but may also be a Slavic pagan. The two are separated and are not combined. The Slavic deities are not invoked in the spells and the witchcraft practices the secular witch uses are not included in the religious aspects of their life.
Servitor
a Construct that works alongside you, such as an assistant or guide. They are interchangeable with Familiars in terms of the work they do.
The difference between a Servitor and a Familiar is that Servitors are usually created and Familiars exist on their own.
Smoke Cleansing / Smudging
A cleansing method that uses smoke to cleanse a space. This smoke usually comes in the form of herbal bundles and incense, but it can also come from other forms of smoke such as a bonfire or candle fire.
It is the same thing as “smudging”, but it a more acceptable term. The community is attempting to move away from the term “smudging”, as it now has deep connotations to Native American religious practices that are being culturally appropriated by outsiders. Instead, using “smoke cleansing” is a more acceptable term and often is more accurate in usage anyway.
Soft polytheism
This is the belief in many gods at once, but that the gods are not necessarily individual beings or entities in and of themselves. There are many variations of this belief.
- Omnitheism. The belief that different gods are one essential being or universal force and is being interpreted by different cultures differently. See: Omnitheism.
- The gods are archetypes with cultural lenses. Sometimes, this belief has harder polytheistic belief attached to it with the Archetype having different Aspects that are distinct, like flipping a switch between different personalities.
- Example: Loki and Coyote are the same being called the Trickster Archetype.
- Personification of natural phenomena, created forces, or gathered energy.
Spirit walker
a practitioner who works alongside spirits, often closely. They may even have spirits living alongside them.
Closely related to, and often interchangeable with, hedgewitch, hedgewalker, etc.
This Crooked Crown 